Suffolk County Lawmakers Extend Paid Parking Hours at Two Beaches

Evening beach goers will no longer get free parking at two public beaches.

County lawmakers recently voted to charge a $4.00 parking fee at Smith Point County Park in Shirley and Cupsogue Beach County Park in Westhampton Beach between the hours of 5 and 8 PM.

Backers say it'll help pay maintenance and staffing costs but Legislator Kate Browning voted no. She said the fees might cost the county money because beachgoers will have less to spend on food. "They may go down there and go to the vendor, well now they're not likely to buy anything because they've had to spend that money. So you might lose from one end because you pushed it on the other."

Browning wants the County Executive to remove the fees. He didn't return our call for comment.